A Cut Above as Hampshire Extrication Team on Top Again

Hampshire firefighters with a team including Andover’s Martin Gritt, have been crowned national extrication champions at the UK’s biggest rescue competition.

After battling against 23 UK fire and rescue services in road traffic collision scenarios, the Hampshire team have taken the winner’s title at the UK Rescue Challenge (UKRO) held at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire.

The national competition, which spanned over two days, had three categories; extrication, trauma and rope rescue. As well as winning the extrication challenge the Hampshire team also took second place in the trauma challenge.

Both teams were given a range of demanding and challenging scenarios that put their skills to the test including extricating two casualties from a collision involving an HGV and a car and dealing with an explosion which resulted in seven casualties.

Group Manager Jerry Leonard of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said “We are immensely proud to have such talented and professional firefighters within Hampshire. These competitions offer great learning opportunities for firefighters all around the country so that we can all respond to emergency situations in the best possible way.”

“To be crowned national champions is so rewarding for all the hard work and training that our firefighters do. We are also very pleased that the Hampshire team will now go forward to represent the UK at the World Rescue Challenge held in Brazil next year.”

The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s extrication team has previously held the winners trophy at the National, European and World championships during the team’s 29 year history.

Awards were presented by sponsors and the Chair of UKRO, Steve Apter at the awards ceremony.

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